Knowing When to Contact an Orthopedic Surgeon: Symptoms

June 22, 2017

Back pain should be taken seriously no matter what. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, roughly 80% of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. It's important to not only properly identify when you're experiencing back pain, but also know when to seek professional help from an orthopedic surgeon.

Here is a brief outline of when to contact an orthopedic doctor based on the severity of your back pain.

You begin experiencing minor back painStart paying a little more attention to your pain and your everyday movements. If you notice anything strange or discomfort is happening more regularly, contact an orthopedic doctor and begin having discussions about your pain. If your level of pain is still low, however, you probably don’t need to visit the doctor right away, but certainly keep an eye on it.

You begin experiencing major back painIf the pain is becoming more frequent or serious, now it’s time to visit an orthopedic doctor. Make sure you keep a note of every time you experience any severe back pain issues. Maybe you only notice once a day, maybe more, whatever it is, that information is crucial and you will need to let your orthopedic doctor know.

The pain becomes too severe and constantHopefully you will never reach this point in your back pain severity but if you do, know it’s time to drop everything else and visit an orthopedic doctor immediately. This should now be a priority so you can explore ways to alleviate this intense pain and get back to living a comfortable life.

Don't let back pain ruin your life. If you want to learn more about pain management services, various back pain treatment options, or just speak with a trusted orthopedic surgeon, contact Wood County Hospital today.